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Ford Has No Plans To Use Nine-Speed Automatic Co-Developed With GM

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Ford has said thanks, but no thanks to a nine-speed automatic transmission co-developed with General Motors. It’s the same transmission both U.S. automakers signed on to develop years ago that included the co-developed 10-speed automatic transmission. The 10-speed transmission is just now beginning to proliferate across GM’s lineup.

When the automakers announced the development of the new transmissions, Ford took the lead on the 10-speed auto, while GM forged ahead with the nine-speed unit. The nine-speed is for front-wheel-cars, while the 10-speed caters to rear-wheel-drive vehicles.

Automotive News reported on Monday that Ford decided the nine-speed transmission did not provide enough efficiency to justify the added weight. Instead, it has opted to introduce an eight-speed automatic based on the GM transmission. For higher-performance vehicles, it will use an adopted eight-speed automatic based on a six-speed automatic unit.

GM has rolled out the nine-speed automatic on nine different cars so far. They range from the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 2018 Buick LaCrosse and 2018 GMC Terrain. Meanwhile, Ford will introduce its GM-based eight-speed auto on four cars for 2019, the Edge, Focus, Nautilus and Transit Connect.

According to the outlet’s source, Ford actually made the decision not to use the nine-speed automatic before GM even introduced the transmission. Ford is confident its eight-speed unit will provide the right efficiency for its cars without the added weight.

“The small efficiency benefit did not justify the added weight and cost of an extra clutch and gear,” Ford spokesman Mike Levine told AN.

This sounds like a bit of insanity as how much more could the 9-speed automatic transmission cost and weigh over the 8-speed automatic especially when every report of a General Motors vehicle which upgraded to the 9-speed automatic transmission said the vehicle achieved better performance and mileage unless these things don’t matter to Ford as much.

Ford really is in trouble. All the last ten years as GM was cutting cost and invested in new platforms and technology Ford was investing in the Aluminum F150.

Then they ran into production issues were income from the truck really dropped. Next the cost of aluminum has gone up lowering profit on the trucks.

As this was going on Frod dropped behind in EV tech and other areas that excite Wall St and it has hurt stock prices.

It will turn around but they will need to go through some painful changes.

I have seen little on these transmission deals. They say it is a partnerships but I get the feeling GM has done the bulk of the work. Originally Ford was to be in charge of the FWD transmission and GM the RWD. But if that is the case then why would Ford skip their own unit? If weight was a concern why did they not design it out.

I know GM says the 8 speed is the same weight as their six and bet the 10 is not much more.

GM has a much better idea: the Chevy Volt’s 5ET50 transaxle with two integrated electric motors and no shifting. It can run up to 99 MPH which is more than most drivers can travel legally, and it can run as a hybrid with a smaller gas engine. Up rating this transaxle to manage higher torques is just a redesign with heavier materials. An example of the redesign is in the Cadillac CT6 PHEV, which is a RWD vehicle.